BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- A former office administrator for the U.S. Small Business Administration office in Birmingham was indicted by a federal grand jury today on wire fraud and theft of government funds charges, federal authorities announced.

Anneva Johns, 51, of Moody was charged in a nine-count indictment filed in U.S. District Court with wire fraud and theft of government funds, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Joyce White Vance and Small Business Administration Inspector General Peggy E. Gustafson.

Johns was the administrative officer for the Small Business Administration in Birmingham, according to the statement. The statement, citing the indictment, between 2007 and January 2011, Johns improperly and fraudulently used government credit cards and fraudulently claimed travel expenses to embezzle about $49,612 in Small Business Administration funds.

"Government employees and officials should be forewarned that if they violate the law and the public trust in order to line their own pockets, they will be prosecuted," Vance said.